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Hydrogen, the potential of an energy vector

Worker co ipad in hand in hydrogen plant

The role of hydrogen in the energy mix

Hydrogen could contribute significantly to decarbonization. In order to express the full potential of this valuable energy vector, we are using complementary and non-competing production technologies according to the principle of technological neutrality. An effective strategy must recognise the contribution to decarbonisation that all forms of low-carbon hydrogen can make.

What is hydrogen?

Hydrogen is an energy vector that can store and supply large amounts of energy per unit mass without generating CO₂ emissions during combustion. It is the simplest and most abundant element on the planet and in the solar system, but it is rarely available in its free, molecular state (H2), because it is present with other chemical elements, e.g. water (H20) and hydrocarbons (CH4). In the industrial sector, 'grey' hydrogen is defined as that obtained from methane (the most common form of production in the world), 'blue' hydrogen as that obtained from methane but with the capture of the CO2 emitted in the process, and 'green' hydrogen as that obtained from water via electrolysis powered by renewable sources.
Highlights

Some data on hydrogen production worldwide and our research in this area.

>98%
hydrogen

produced in the world today is from fossil fuels


6%
portion

of natural gas used worldwide to produce hydrogen


142
MJ

energy that can be produced with 1 kg of hydrogen


14 mln
euro

Eni’s investment for hydrogen research and development (2022)


>98%
hydrogen

produced in the world today is from fossil fuels

6%
portion

of natural gas used worldwide to produce hydrogen

142
MJ

energy that can be produced with 1 kg of hydrogen

14 mln
euro

Eni’s investment for hydrogen research and development (2022)

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Eni is the largest producer and consumer of hydrogen in Italy, but we must work to create a system that allows for investment and development, leading to the creation of a real hydrogen market.

Our activities in hydrogen

We are one of the largest producers and consumers of hydrogen in Italy. To date, the element is mainly used as feedstock in traditional refining processes as well as in the biorefineries in Venice and Gela to produce HVO biofuels, i.e. the hydrotreated vegetable oils ideal for sustainable mobility.

Hydrogen in refineries and biorefineries is used directly in production processes and produced mainly through a technology that has been established in the industry nowadays: Steam Methane Reforming (SMR). Low-carbon hydrogen is also a solution for the decarbonisation of highly energy-hungry industries with hard-to-abate process emissions, where electrification is not currently a viable or decisive option. 

Our hydrogen projects

The processes and technologies we are developing to produce and utilise this energy vector.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Systems

We want to produce blue hydrogen, i.e. by means of steam reforming plants for natural gas combined with the capture of CO₂ generated by the production process. This way, we want to reduce the carbon footprint of the hydrogen used as feedstock in our plants, also with a view to the progressive decarbonisation of our energy products. The aim of CCS is actually primarily to reduce CO₂ emissions from heavy industry (refining, iron and steel, glass, chemicals, cement factories, etc.), while also fostering the development of a blue energy chain (blue hydrogen and blue electricity). In Italy, there is a unique opportunity to produce blue hydrogen in the Ravenna area, thanks to the implementation of the 'Ravenna CCS' project, which, by exploiting the combination of depleted offshore gas fields with infrastructure that is still in working order, will provide a safe storage site for all industrial emissions in the area.

kGas

We are developing kGas, a technology for converting natural gas into synthesis gas, i.e. the mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide that constitutes a valuable source of H₂ through catalytic partial oxidation of natural gas. In addition to being a more energy efficient system than the ones that are available on the market, kGas is able to produce synthesis gas and hydrogen with a strong reduction in CO₂ emissions, possibly using biomethane as a feedstock. This process could be a candidate to become the technology of choice for blue hydrogen production, as it enables CO₂ capture with greater efficiency.

Waste to Hydrogen

At the Venice refinery, we are evaluating the implementation of the Waste to Hydrogen project, based on an innovative gasification technology: a process for the production of sustainable hydrogen through the gasification of non-recyclable waste, i.e. Plasmix¹ and CSS ², waste that is currently used in waste-to-energy plants or sent to landfills. This process enables the production of sustainable H in synergy with refining plants, helping to reduce emissions associated with conventional waste treatment and conventional hydrogen production. With an on-site gasification system for hydrogen production, a 90% saving in greenhouse gas emissions is achieved compared to hydrogen production by steam reforming. The GHG saving calculation is made on a LCA (life cycle analysis) basis and takes into account the emissions avoided by using waste as feedstock in the Waste to Hydrogen project instead of as feedstock in a conventional waste-to-energy plant.

 

1) Plasmix: sorting waste by collecting plastics separately 

2) CSS: secondary solid fuel, the fraction resulting from the sorting of undifferentiated waste collection in mechanical biological treatment plants 

Our hydrogen projects

The processes and technologies we are developing to produce and utilise this energy vector.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Systems

We want to produce blue hydrogen, i.e. by means of steam reforming plants for natural gas combined with the capture of CO₂ generated by the production process. This way, we want to reduce the carbon footprint of the hydrogen used as feedstock in our plants, also with a view to the progressive decarbonisation of our energy products. The aim of CCS is actually primarily to reduce CO₂ emissions from heavy industry (refining, iron and steel, glass, chemicals, cement factories, etc.), while also fostering the development of a blue energy chain (blue hydrogen and blue electricity). In Italy, there is a unique opportunity to produce blue hydrogen in the Ravenna area, thanks to the implementation of the 'Ravenna CCS' project, which, by exploiting the combination of depleted offshore gas fields with infrastructure that is still in working order, will provide a safe storage site for all industrial emissions in the area.

kGas

We are developing kGas, a technology for converting natural gas into synthesis gas, i.e. the mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide that constitutes a valuable source of H₂ through catalytic partial oxidation of natural gas. In addition to being a more energy efficient system than the ones that are available on the market, kGas is able to produce synthesis gas and hydrogen with a strong reduction in CO₂ emissions, possibly using biomethane as a feedstock. This process could be a candidate to become the technology of choice for blue hydrogen production, as it enables CO₂ capture with greater efficiency.

Waste to Hydrogen

At the Venice refinery, we are evaluating the implementation of the Waste to Hydrogen project, based on an innovative gasification technology: a process for the production of sustainable hydrogen through the gasification of non-recyclable waste, i.e. Plasmix¹ and CSS ², waste that is currently used in waste-to-energy plants or sent to landfills. This process enables the production of sustainable H in synergy with refining plants, helping to reduce emissions associated with conventional waste treatment and conventional hydrogen production. With an on-site gasification system for hydrogen production, a 90% saving in greenhouse gas emissions is achieved compared to hydrogen production by steam reforming. The GHG saving calculation is made on a LCA (life cycle analysis) basis and takes into account the emissions avoided by using waste as feedstock in the Waste to Hydrogen project instead of as feedstock in a conventional waste-to-energy plant.

 

1) Plasmix: sorting waste by collecting plastics separately 

2) CSS: secondary solid fuel, the fraction resulting from the sorting of undifferentiated waste collection in mechanical biological treatment plants 

Hydrogen JRP: a platform for the development of hydrogen-related technologies

In order to boost the creation of a hydrogen supply chain in Italy, together with the Milan Polytechnic Foundation, Edison and Snam, we created the Hydrogen Joint Research Platform (Hydrogen JRP) which is dedicated to the development of hydrogen-related technologies. The main areas identified are:

●       clean (green and 'low carbon') hydrogen production

●       solutions for its transportation and related advanced storage systems

●       innovative electrochemical and thermal applications in residential, industrial and transport applications

●       the development of best practices for designing and implementing hydrogen transport and storage infrastructures.

Value for mobility and electricity

Hydrogen is a promising option for sustainable mobility in the medium term, especially for transport sectors that are difficult to decarbonise, such as heavy and long-haul road transport. In the long term, it could also find a use in the maritime mobility sector. However, the development of hydrogen-based transport in Europe is limited by high production and distribution costs, as well as a lack of adequate infrastructure. To overcome these challenges, we have built a hydrogen filling station in Mestre and a second one in San Donato Milanese, where the hydrogen will be produced on site by means of an electrolyser.

In addition, Eni is developing expertise in the combustion of hydrogen and natural gas mixtures in existing gas turbines. This technology aims to increase the percentage of hydrogen used to power Enipower gas turbines, thus enabling low-carbon electricity to be generated.



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